Binding energy in atoms and nuclei
[Sec. 4.1 Dunlap]
The binding energy of an atom is the energy released as all the constituent particles (n, p and e) come together FROM INFINITY under both the STRONG force and the EM force.
The binding energy is something that is LOST from the atomic system. Thus it is not something that the system possesses.
CONCEPT OF BINDING ENERGY
CALCULATION OF BINDING ENERGY
Total Energy Total Energy
EBcXcZmNmZm Nenp . M 2AZ
2
2
2
22
atom mass - tsconstituen mass
Z .
c
cXMNmZm
cXMcZmNmmEBAZnH
NAZenp
ANOTHER WAY OF VIEWING BINDING ENERGY
+
ATOM Constituents at infinity
The opposite way of seeing binding energy - is that if B.E. (MeV) is put into the atom then there is just enough energy available to split all the constituents of the atoms apart and get them to rest at infinity.
SINGLE NEUTRON SEPARATION ENERGYThe same method can be used to easily compute the “Single Neutron Separation Energy” – which is the energy required to “pull” a neutron out of the nucleus.
21
1
221
12
MM
M M
cXmXS
cmcXcXS
NAZnN
AZn
nNAZN
AZn
Note we don’t have to measure Sn directly.
SINGLE PROTON SEPARATION ENERGYThe same clever strategy applies to finding the “Single Proton Separation Energy” Sp. But note here there is a difference – we must be careful in counting electron mass.
22211
2 M M cmcmcYcXS epNAZN
AZp
21
1
211
MM
MM
cXmY
cXmmYS
NAZHN
AZ
NAZepN
AZp
pS [Mass of Final Products – Mass of Initial atom] c2
ALPHA PARTICLE DECAY ENERGYIn a nuclear decay energy is given out in the separation of particles. This energy is often referred to as the “Q” of the reaction. Clearly the Q is the negative of the particle separation energy.
Q M M 222
42
2 cmcYcX NAZN
AZ
He
MM4
242
22
42
BYBXB
cmYXQ
NAZN
AZ
NAZN
AZ
Eq 8.2
Eq. 8.3
Eq. 8.4
U23592
CALCULATION OF BINDING ENERGY
Total Energy Total Energy
EBcXcZmNmZm Nenp . M 2AZ
2
2
2
22
atom mass - tsconstituen mass
Z .
c
cXMNmZm
cXMcZmNmmEBAZnH
NAZenp
Mass Defect• Mass defect (M.D) is another way of saying nuclear
B.E. It is simply the nuclear B.E. expressed not as MeV but in mass units (MeV/c2)
M
M Z ..
XNmZm
XZmNmmDMAZnH
NAZenp
2
2
22
atom mass - tsconstituen mass
M
M Z .
c
cXNmZm
cXcZmNmmEBAZnH
NAZenp
= Mass constituents of atom – mass of atom
Mass Excess• Do not confuse Mass Excess with Mass Defect
(or Binding Energy). Mass Excess is just a CONVENIENT WAY to write down the mass of a nucleus in amu (u). 1u = 931.5MeV
AuX NAZM
This is just a common sense thing. The mass of a nucleus can get very large if expressed in MeV and will always be approximately equal to Au because it is made up of A nucleons. It is thus convenient to tabulate rather than the whole nuclear mass.
2 uM cAXAZ MeV
Can either be expressed in u or MeV
Mass Excess – Example on 238U(238U)= .0507826 u
M(238U)=238+ .0507826 u =238.0507826 u
= 238.0507826 x 931.494 MeV/c2
= 221,742 . 875 MeV/c2
Armed with this information we can work out the B.E. of 238U
Mass Deficit + Binding Energy of
92 proton mass = 86,319 . 736 MeV /c2
146 neutron mass = 137,174 . 446 MeV /c2
92 electron mass= 47 . 012 MeV /c2
Mass constituents = 223,541 . 194 MeV /c2
M(238U) observed = 221,742 . 875 MeV/c2
Mass Defect = 1,798 . 319 MeV/c2
Binding Energy = 1,798 . 319 MeV
Electronic B.E = . 795 MeV
Nuclear B.E. = 1,797 . 52 MeV
B.E/nucleon = 1,797.52/238= 7.55MeV
14623892 U
How much is electronic binding energy?
There are two types of binding energy in the atom – Strong Nuclear B.E. and the Electromagnetic B.E. of the electrons to the nucleus.
Nuclear EM
5 7/3Nuclear 2.08 10
A A AZ Z Z
AZ
B X B X B X
B X Z
7/3238 592 U 2.08 10 92
0.795MeVEMB
THE FAMOUS B/A (binding energy per nucleon) CURVE